Today's News

We were glad that Roane County’s Tea Party was not formally listed among other Tea Party groups who declared their intentions this summer to oust U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee from office in next year’s Republican primary.

In these divided, divisive times, Alexander — a Republican — has shown leadership and courage by attempting to reaching across party lines and actually serve the people. Apparently, that’s where many Tea Partyers draw the line.

Elected officials will be allowed to grant employee bonuses if a resolution calling for such passes the Roane County Commission next week.
“I hope it passes, because the county employees deserve it,” Circuit Court Clerk Kim Nelson said. “All of my deputy clerks work hard, and I would like to see them rewarded.”
The commission meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the courthouse in Kingston.
The budget committee voted 4-0 on Aug. 28 to recommend the employee-bonus resolution to the full commission.

Electric customers can expect an increase in their rates this fall.
TVA announced a 1.5 percent retail rate increase, which a news release said is the first in two years.
Both Harriman Utility Board and Rockwood Electric Utility Board are passing those rate increases on to residential customers.
“I think the first of October you’ll see increased electric rates,” said Rockwood Councilwoman Peggy Evans recently.

Last month, I read with interest the Chattanooga Times Free Press coverage of President Obama’s visit to their city.
Nearly two decades ago, when I lived and worked in Chicago, I covered presidential visits as a member of The Associated Press news bureau. Me and my ilk from other Chicago news outlets often sat through presidential dinners, unfed at side tables. Meanwhile, the Washington press corps — the ones who traveled with the president — were in the center of things and eating pretty well, too.

When Second Harvest decided to end its funding to the Kids Cafe program, that could have been the end for the community outreach to the youth at Rockwood Housing Authority.
However, an anonymous donation cemented the funding for the coming year.
Now RHA employee Jennifer Watson said the donations and volunteers are in place in the community to continue the program.
“We are going to be just fine,” she said.
Watson said community members organized a drive that sparked a lot of donations.

The first two weeks of the high school football season have come and gone. During that time, there have been some exciting games like Oneida’s 13-12 overtime victory over Rockwood to open the season, and last week’s game between Midway and Whitwell that ended in a 53-50 victory.